Andhra Pradesh's talks with
Naxalite groups is fraught with dangerous consequences not just for the state
but for all of India, writes ARAVIND SITARAMAN

What is India News ServiceNovember 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh (AP) has
concluded its first round of negotiations with the People’s War Group (PWG).
AP was the definite loser. Consequently, it has dragged the country into its
quagmire.

The PWG started in the 1970s
in AP against repression and lack of development from successive Congress governments
in that state. Today, its ideology has spanned into twelve states and 120
districts. Worse, it has also aligned itself with the Naxalite movement in
Nepal. While the Indian government promises aid, political and diplomatic
support, and military training to the Government of Nepal, it seeks to lay off
its friendly government in AP. This is not done in a federal structure, is it?

When a problem spans multiple
states, it is no longer just a state issue; it is a national issue. The YSR
Reddy Government in AP has proven itself to be one of the worst in the state’s
history. The Congress came to power based on a promise on a separate state for
Telungana, free power for farmers, reservation for minorities, poverty
alleviation, and a negotiated settlement with the PWG. It has failed on all
accounts. It is now rightly backtracking on the Telungana issue; the state is
bankrupt so it cannot provide free power to the farmers; more poor farmers have
committed suicide in the last 150 days than during the entire rule of the Telugu
Desam Party (TDP). While the first three are purely state politics, its lack of
strategy and understanding in dealing with the PWG is now threatening to destroy
the rule of law in the whole nation.

There are several problems
with strategy of Andhra Pradesh and the Centre on its conversation with PWG.
Firstly, AP agreed to negotiations with the PWG without the latter laying down
arms. Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of terrorism would tell you
that this is not a smart idea. The terrorist organization was beaten and reduced
by relentless action by the TDP Government over the last four years. The PWG is
using this negotiation phase as a means to regroup, rearm, strategize, and gain
momentum. The AP Government has allowed numerous “peaceful” morale building
rallies conducted by the PWG. How is this peaceful if the organization is going
to use it as a means to garner more visibility and support?

Secondly, AP is trying to buy
peace by giving the cadres government land. While this may be considered a
reasonable strategy to rehabilitate terrorists, it must be preceded by a clear
demonstration of goodwill, peace, and intention. None of this has happened.
AP’s strategy is similar to the one followed by the Eastern Roman Empire
against Attila the Hun. As history has proved repeatedly, no self-respecting
democratic state should negotiate with terrorists and barbarians; no matter what
grand titles they give themselves—jihadis, naxals, or freedom fighters. It is
strange that some national English newspapers actually encourage this effort by
asking the AP Government to “synch its estimate of free land with those of the
PWG.” This is irresponsible and subversive.

Thirdly, AP has transferred
police officers who had a good understanding of the geography, PWG tactics, and
locations of their hideouts. By doing this, AP has placated the PWG for no
apparent benefit and risked the stability of its neighboring states. In fact,
Maharashtra (MH) is now a direct victim of this policy. The regrouped PWG in AP
launches attacks on the police in MH—sort of like what the terrorists from
Pakistan do to our troops in Jammu and Kashmir (JK).

Fourthly, AP has disbanded
its terrorist fighting machinery even before the negotiations have gained
ground. It has taken several years of hard work, police lives, and intelligence
gathering to deal with the PWG menace. Surrendering this initiative, especially
with the experienced officers transferred out, is going to take more time,
money, and lives to build up. Perhaps, AP’s strategy is to get peace whatever
the cost. This is very facile thinking and can easily impact the nation as a
whole.

The Government of India (GoI)
has fiduciary responsibility and cannot turn a blind eye just because the
Government in AP belongs to the same party. It cannot host contrary
policies—one with Nepal and one internally. If the PWG and the terrorists in
Nepal link up, India would have to face a problem several times harder than what
is happening in JK as the geography, diversity, terrain, and motivations are
varied. The Prime Minister (PM) talks of increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
growth through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). No company, money fund, or
individual would be foolish to invest in places where there is no rule of law.

The GoI cannot allow the
incompetence and short-sightedness of one man, YSR Reddy, create problems for
future generations of India. The Congress Party in AP precipitated the PWG
development in the first place. Primarily through sheer ineptitude, the same
state machinery is threatening the nation at large. It took a great leader from
the same party, Indira Gandhi, to destroy one such movement in the 1970s. Would
the party now have the foresight to follow her example?